Chapter 5: Azure

--

By the far end of the room stood a slender girl with huge round glasses and stared in their direction, or more correctly, in Edward's direction. And even though she was far away, Alfons could still figure out her words when she started speaking.

"E-Edward…" she stuttered. "Edward Elric… is that you?"

Alfons stared curiously at the girl. She knew Edward? This was good, wasn't it? Edward would probably be happy to finally find some of his old friends. He was about to open his mouth to greet the girl, but then Edward abruptly backed.

Before Alfons could ask what the matter was, Edward had grabbed his arm and bolted for the door.

Edward's legs went as a pair of drumsticks, like the devil was chasing him. While running down the stairs from the main entrance to Central Library, Alfons managed to get his arm free and almost fell nose first down the last couple of stairs.

"Edward!" he called bewildered. "Stop!"

But Edward seemed to only want to get as much distance from the library as humanly possible, continuing to run up the street. Alfons couldn't do else than run after him to keep track of him.

But why were they running?

"Edward!" he panted, trying to keep up with the older blond. "Wait already!" He reminded himself that he needed to get into shape. While being sick he sometimes had gotten tired just from walking. Running through entire Central to keep up with Edward was something he yet wasn't fit to do. Not to mention, Central was still crowded and he felt a little stupid as people started turning curiously after them.

Edward finally slowed down and stopped completely in an empty alley. There he waited without turning around, not even seeming tired.

Alfons stopped next to him, leaning forward on his knees and breathed hard. Yes, his condition had to be worked on, he thought dourly. He finally looked up at the other, who was standing still, quite stiffly.

"What was that all about?" Alfons asked fixedly. "Don't you know her?"

"Hardly," Edward said.

"But she recognized you," Alfons pointed out. "It was quite impolite to just run off."

Edward shook his head. "It's none of your business. Just forget about it."

Alfons frowned. Edward was acting strange again. But he couldn't fool him. "None of my business?" Alfons reiterated. "You're the only one I know. Don't you want to introduce me to anyone?"

Edward didn't reply to that. "Let's just go back to the dorms." Without another word he started walking fast, leaving Alfons to stare at his back.

Alfons couldn't quite understand what was wrong now. But something was it, and something had come to his mind that he hadn't yet thought of until now. Which he should have thought of before…

Edward hadn't contacted anyone.

They had been here for three days already. And Edward hadn't made any attempts to call his family or any of his old friends. Why?

He followed Edward's footsteps but not as fast as the older teen. He used his time to think. He knew Edward had someone he could call. He had a Grandma and a childhood friend in Rizembool, the people he and his brother had stayed with after their mother passed away. Alfons had figured that he at least would let them know that he was still alive. But he hadn't. And now Alfons wanted to know why.

Safely inside their dorm room Alfons was set upon coming to the bottom of this right there and then. But as soon as they were inside, Edward fell against the wall gritting his teeth along with a sound that was unmistakably pain. He slipped down on the floor with his back against the wall, looking suddenly pale as a ghost.

"Edward!" Alfons stepped fast towards him and knelt beside him, alarmed. "What's wrong? Are you hurt?"

"Damn leg," he muttered, pearls of sweat ran down his face. "Hadn't it started failing again, I would've kept running."

Alfons stared at him. "This didn't happen just now?" Stupid Edward! Alfons realized that his leg had failed already back in the alley. But the damned airhead wouldn't even show it. "Why didn't you tell me?" Alfons scolded. "Obviously your leg didn't hold through all that stupid running!"

Edward looked away from him. "I'm fine."

Here we go again... "Stop saying you're fine when you're not, Edward!" Alfons snapped. He put a hand at Edward's damp forehead. "You have a fever again. Why does it keep coming back?"

Edward sank back against the wall, eyes shuttered close. "Just let me sleep and it'll pass over," he muttered.

Alfons grabbed the front of his shirt and shook him. "Tell me the truth already. Is the prosthetics making you sick? You had a mechanic two years ago. Call her and she'll fix you up!"

Edward's golden eyes widened and he looked more or less horror-struck at him, dead silent. Just by that Alfons knew that he was right.

Alfons let go of him, rubbing a hand against his face. "You haven't contacted any of your old friends or family. Why haven't you? They still think you're dead, right? How can you do something like that to them?"

Edward didn't reply to that either. He shook his head, as trying to shake the fever away. Then his breath hitched of an obvious pain attack.

Alfons sighed quietly. If he didn't get him into bed soon, he'd pass out or get worse. "Come on…" he mumbled softly, and took a hold around Edward's flesh arm to help him up. With some effort he managed to get the shorter teen up standing on one leg and escorted him to bed.

Without any more words, Edward was out like a light and Alfons was left by his bed side, turning the cold cloth on his forehead.

He didn't leave his side except when he prepared a glass of water, in case he woke up. He carefully brushed back a couple of stray locks that stuck to Edward's damp forehead.

Why did Edward always refuse to tell him anything? Why did he always keep his problems for himself? Alfons wondered if Edward acted in pure denial to keep his own control, or simply pretended that the smaller overflowing problems weren't such a big deal.

It didn't take too long before Edward's eyes fluttered, and he opened them wide, staring straight up in the ceiling.

Alfons grabbed the glass of water and had him drink some. Edward coughed, making water spill down his chin.

"Edward..." Alfons said, but stopped as a hand of metal grasped the chest of his shirt.

"I don't know exactly why," Edward said in a low voice, breathing in deep. "But somehow I've been telling myself that no one needs to know yet... I don't know what to say to her."

Alfons scowled. "Why? They would want to know..." he said slowly, slightly taken aback by how sudden Edward recaptured the subject.

Edward sighed. "She..." He paused before he continued, eyes looking dark. "She will cry. I hate to see her crying."

Alfons straightened himself slowly and smiled softly. "I see... Her name is Winry, right? The mechanic from your home village?"

Edward nodded.

"I think you should call her."

He received a long look. "No," Edward protested. He was about to come with further arguments, but his voice silenced in mid-sentence like he couldn't think of any good arguments to point out. "I don't know her number," he said in the end, sounding quite lame.

Alfons snorted. "I don't think that will be a big problem. We're in the military, and they'll probably have ways to find out people's phone numbers."

Before Edward could protest any further, the door knocked and the two of them went silent, only listening closely for sounds outside their door.

Who would pay them a visit?

The only person Alfons could think of was probably Colonel Roy Mustang, but it would still be weird for him to come to their dorm room on their day off.

He rose slowly. "I'll get it."

Edward didn't say anything.

Alfons went to the door and listened again. It knocked for the second time.

"Who is it?" he called.

"Uhm... My name is Scheiska," a female voice said hesitantly. "The girl from the library."

Alfons frowned and opened the door.

As said, the same girl they had seen at the library stood by their door, smiling faintly. "I-Is Edward with you in there?" she asked politely.

"How did you get here?" Alfons asked bluntly.

"Oh..." She picked up her ID-card from her pocket. "I work for the military. In the department of investigations. It was Edward who got me that job, by the way." She laughed nervously. "Uhm, who are you?"

"Oh, sorry. I'm Alfons Heiderich," he said fast.

She just stared at him for some seconds. "Alfons... Heiderich?"

Alfons smiled politely, grabbed her arm and dragged her inside the door. It was better to keep things at a certain discreet level. But he figured it would be okay to let her see Edward since she knew him from before, and she looked friendly after all.

She looked a little bewildered at him as he shut the door tightly behind them.

"Edward," he said. "Someone is here to see you." He motioned for the girl named Scheiska to follow him.

Edward sat up slowly in the bed, fixing his eyes on the brown-haired girl. "You found me fast... Still working here then?" he asked.

She nodded. "Thanks to you..." Then she smiled, nervously gazing to Alfons and back at him. "Edward, I need to talk to you... Uhm, you're not a ghost, are you?"

"No," Edward said, a small irritated furrow popped up on his forehead. "Talk to me about what?"

Scheiska looked relieved, and then she stared more determined at him. "I could hardly believe my own eyes when I saw you. For how long have you been back?"

"Three days," Edward said honestly.

"You haven't told Winry, have you?"

"No."

"I thought so." Scheiska took a deep breath. "I went to see her last weekend in Rizembool, because she could really need a friend right now. She thinks she has lost both you and Al. She's devastated."

Edward swallowed.

"You have to let her know!" Scheiska said. "She needs you. She has never forgotten about you."

Edward rubbed his forehead and sighed lightly. "I see," he finally said after a pause. "It's troublesome. But I guess I have to call her and tell her everything will be okay."

Schieska's face lightened up. "Really?"

Edward nodded. "I'm here to bring Al back. I won't stop until I succeed."

Scheiska sighed of relief with a huge smile on her face. "I'll give you her number right away. Promise to call her as soon as you can."

Edward nodded. "Promise."

Alfons smiled.

--

After insisting for him to call Winry first thing in the morning, Scheiska had left and they went to each of their beds. Alfons let Edward have some space to recover from his harsh fever-attack and nestled into the pillow, pulling the covers all the way up to his nose. It didn't take long before he slumbered into sleep. It had been a long day, though things felt finally fairly good between them again. He had enjoyed this day together with Edward.

He hadn't slept for long before he woke up, hearing Edward's husky voice in the dark. "Hi Winry, it's me..."

--

It was a quiet night as usual at the Rockbell residence in Rizembool. Still when the phone rang, Winry Rockbell didn't even feel agitated that their phone suddenly was ringing in the middle of the night. She couldn't sleep anyway. On the other hand, she hurried down the stairs to take it before it woke up her old Granny Pinako. Her dog, Den, was lurking curiously after her as she picked up the phone.

"Hello, this is Rockbell," she said tiredly. Even if she couldn't sleep, it didn't mean that she wasn't sleepy. But her eyes simply stung too much in the night to allow her sleep. She scowled a little at how silent the other end of the phone was.

"Hello?" she repeated.

"Winry?" a low voice said.

"Yeah," she replied. "Who is this?"

"Hi Winry, it's me..." the voice said quietly.

She frowned. Something about that voice was strangely familiar. A voice she hadn't heard for a long long time. Winry was silent for maybe a whole minute.

"Ed?" she whispered.

"Yeah," he said.

Winry almost dropped the phone, but clung to it with both hands, tears filling up her eyelids before she could even stop herself. "Ed! Is that really you? Where are you?" Was she dreaming?

"In Central," he said. "Listen, Winry. I can't explain on the phone."

Winry clutched the receiver, sobbing lightly. "Where have you been all this time?"

Edward sighed softly in the other end. "It doesn't matter. I'm back now."

"I thought I had lost you... both of you."

"You haven't."

Winry sniffled, and said determinedly: "I'll be there in the morning. I have it ready for you. I knew you'd be back someday."

"... Winry..."

"Where can I meet you?" she asked.

"Okay. At HQ," he said. "I'll give Mustang a message so they'll let you in."

Winry smiled through her tears. This was almost unbelievable.

--

The following morning, they received a call from the Colonel which Alfons answered to since he was already out of bed. He was told that they were expected at the warehouse within one hour for news about the starting project.

Alfons met up alone at the scheduled time, and received a questioning look from the Colonel.

"Where is Fullmetal?" he asked.

Alfons wasn't used to hearing that name being used instead of Edward, but he didn't say anything of it. "I told him to stay at the dorms, sir," he replied.

Roy Mustang scratched his eyebrow. "Is something wrong?"

"Kind of..." Alfons replied slowly. "He can't walk."

Mustang frowned. "Is it the automail?"

"As far as I've understood, he doesn't have automail," Alfons explained. "He hasn't had that for two years. He uses prosthetics, a more primitive version of it. It has been failing lately and he has repaired the worst damage with alchemy until now. But now it's beyond repair." He automatically lowered his voice. "The automail technology isn't invented in the other world, so at the time he came there, it didn't function properly. We had some spare parts his father made that had a temporary function."

Mustang nodded. "I see."

"I think help is on the way though," Alfons proceeded. "Which is probably the only reason why I managed to convince him to stay. For now he's drawing some sketches for the project while he's absent."

"Good, good," Roy Mustang said, feeling relieved. "She will fix him up." Offering a smile at Alfons, he turned to the warehouse building where the project would be put in motion, giving a sign to Alfons to follow him. "I know Edward said we didn't need any helpers, but there's some heavy lifting to be done and such. The materials will arrive within one hour."

"That's good news," Alfons said, walking beside him through the open hangar door.

"I hired a couple of people from my unit," the Colonel continued. "You haven't met them yet, have you?"

"No, sir. Or... I've met 1st Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye."

Mustang nodded again. "Let me introduce you to the others. I called them from Lior yesterday. They were originally out looking for Alphonse Elric, but with no luck."

Alfons nodded slowly. He got introduced to four other men of the unit, which seemed to be Roy Mustang's most trusted ones. Jean Havoc, Heymans Breda, Vato Falman and Kain Fuery.

"So, he's putting this kid in charge of us now," Breda said, sighing jokingly.

Alfons wasn't offended. He was already used to that kind of humour. He smiled as he recognized some of them from his own old rocket team. Almost automatically he straightened his back a little more. He wanted to seem like a modest leader. At least be treated like one, like he had been in Munich. "I'll go easy on you," he replied, and to his relief several of them laughed.

Kain Fuery reached his hand out to him and shook it warmly while adjusted his glasses. "Nice to meet you, Heiderich-san."

Alfons got slightly taken aback by being called that by someone older than him. Breda followed by reaching his hand out beside Fuery. "Welcome here."

Alfons nodded politely thanks. They might think it was weird to have him here, being Alphonse Elric's double. But he was glad they didn't look at him like he was some sort of freak or something like that. He had collaborated well with his old rocket team, so he would make sure he would do the same here.

"No worries, boss," Jean Havoc said as he shook his hand as well, a cigarette lurking in the corner of his mouth. "Our biggest interest right now is to get the little runt back, as well as stopping the bad guys."

Alfons nodded again. "I am happy to be a part of that. By the way, I can't allow smoking in here," he added.

Havoc gawked at him, and Vato Falman laughed heartedly. "He's right. We'll probably deal with some dangerous fluids."

"Balls," Havoc muttered, stomping the cigarette like he had to leave a good friend behind. But then the sheepish grin was back again.

The other world's Falman had even been in charge of the old rocket team together with him. With the same name and almost the same looks, it was very difficult to think of this as a different Falman. Falman had almost been like a father figure to him. Alfons felt slightly weird in this situation. But he wouldn't let his own silly homesick emotions come in the way for the work. Either way he thought it would be nice to have some help from people he was almost familiar with.

"Yes, the fuel will be made by several flammable fluids," Alfons said. "We have to make it manually, without alchemy. It could be dangerous to transmute fuel, and Edward will already have his hands full with transmuting all the parts."

They nodded understandingly.

Riza Hawkeye was among the group as well, and smiled kindly at him as he gave her a discreet wave. Alfons still wasn't used to being among military people and what he was expected to do when approaching them. Especially towards someone who looked just like his mother. But he decided to just be his normal self and stick to the formal sir and ma'am.

The Colonel stood some feet away with his arms crossed and a small smile on his lips. Alfons was already getting along well with the others. He was slightly impressed. The boy had spirit. He had made sure to tell Hawkeye to warn the guys about Heiderich's looks before they saw him. It would've been awkward for the boy having to explain why he looked like Alphonse Elric. But that was all. No one else could find out the truth. It would hurt his own reputation as well as giving an uncomfortable situation to handle for Alfons.

Mustang smiled to himself, wondering who he was doing this for the most. Himself or Edward. Perhaps both. But mostly it was to stop Thule Society, of course. But he couldn't lie to himself. One of the main reasons why he had helped Alfons Heiderich this much was probably to make Edward happy, even if that alone probably wouldn't deepen their relationship any further. It was rather an equal share of doing it better and worse at the same time. But he was a patient man. He could wait for now. Edward might seek him out someday in the future, and that day he would definitely be there.

All of a sudden he heard new approaching steps, like someone was marching in their direction, dragging him out of his personal thoughts. He turned with a scowl at the open hangar door.

And he was right. Striding into the warehouse was a uniformed squad of ten men, led by a tall dark-haired man. By the sight of him, Mustang felt a growing irritation in his stomach, and all he wanted to do right there and then was to set the man on fire.

He stepped slowly in front of everyone to meet the new approaching company.

"Colonel Roy Mustang," Brigadier General Carl R. Kiehle said, after putting into a halt before him.

"Brigadier General," Mustang said, his voice frosty. "What's the occurrence of this delightful visit?"

As usual, the Brigadier General made no sign to notice his sarcasm. "I'll be more than happy to inform you. The Fuhrer President thinks it's only natural that an important project of this sort is under the most respectable protection." Carl R. Kiehle seemed to act in a quite serious tone, but his eyes were grinning mockingly at him. "That's why he has suggested that I stay in Central to guard this place, not to mention report to him about the process. My men will be stationed around every corner and ever door around this area – to be sure no unwelcomed people get in."

Colonel Roy Mustang nodded understandingly. "I see. I guess it can't be helped, even if there will be more people knowing what's going on than I usually would feel comfortable with."

"It is the Fuhrer's orders," the Brigadier General smiled. "But I assure you, Colonel, my unit only consists of faithful men."

"Still, it seems like it hasn't occurred to you that Thule might already have put up spies near HQ," Mustang said calmly. "It would be utterly naive to think that they haven't. They have attacked us before, and they know we are stationed here in Central. If they have sent their own people here, they will see that this particular area is more efficiently watched than others, and it will draw their attention right towards us."

The grin disappeared from the Brigadier Generals eyes. "You shouldn't question the Fuhrers reasoning, Colonel."

"I think for the best of my workers safety and our project," Mustang replied.

"Do you now? Well, I'm afraid that the Fuhrer's orders are absolute, and if you will not follow them, you may go speak with him yourself and risk your position by calling our leader incompetent, Mustang." Kiehle smiled coldly.

"I'm not saying that," Mustang said slowly. "I'm simply saying that if the enemy find out about this project, they will target us immediately."

Alfons looked worriedly from one to another. The two men looked like they wanted to target each other's throats. Before he knew what he was doing he had stepped forward, facing both of them. "Excuse me, sirs," he said. "If I'm allowed to speak in this matter."

Both of them glanced quite surprised in his direction. None of them had expected him to involve himself into their mental war. He didn't actually know what he was doing himself. Alfons regretted it almost immediately, but it was too late now.

"Speak," Mustang said shortly.

"I understand that the Fuhrer's orders are absolute," Alfons started, trying to sound more secure than he felt. "So if this area is to be guarded with armoured soldiers, I have a suggestion of a way of doing it without drawing too much attention."

This statement seemed to at least wake some interest from the two commanders. "You mean for them to hide themselves?" Mustang asked.

"No," Alfons said. "Rather the opposite. Hiding at least ten soldiers would be quite difficult if Thule themselves are hiding somewhere close."

"Good point," Mustang admitted. "So what are you suggesting?"

"There is more than one warehouse in this area, I saw at least 10 of them before we got here, not to mention all the smaller warehouses," Alfons continued and looked at the Brigadier General. "And the area is extremely big. I'd say you put up guards at every one of the warehouses, even the ones that are not in use, seeming like it is an everyday procedure. It might look more normal, or at least, they wouldn't know which warehouse that is actually the important one."

Brigadier General Kiehle looked at him with growing interest, crossing his arms and thoughtfully rubbed his cheek.

Roy Mustang didn't show any signs of acknowledgement at the suggestion, which slightly disappointed Alfons. Somehow he wanted to show the man that he wasn't just a kid, and that he was worth all the trusted responsibility of this project.

"We might not seem like it, but we don't have resources of putting up that many soldiers to stay still and guard nothing for days," Mustang said.

"Colonel," Brigadier General Kiehle shot in, walking to Alfons and put a supporting hand on his shoulder. "I think young Heiderich has a point. And even with the amount of soldiers we have at our hand we could still make it look like we're not only guarding one particular area."

Alfons was glad his suggestion hadn't been good for nothing, but didn't feel at all comfortable about the fact that it was Kiehle who agreed with him and not Mustang. He wanted to back away from the hand on his shoulder, but he didn't dare do something that impolite. Instead he remained standing, feeling somehow like he betrayed Roy Mustang because Kiehle sided with him.

"They all will be under my command, of course," Kiehle said with a slight smile. "So you don't have to concern yourself with the matter, Mustang."

The Colonel nodded. "Yes, sir."

Feeling sickened, Alfons understood, studying the higher ranked officer. This man... he wanted a part in the project. Alfons remembered that Mustang had mentioned his desire to hurt his reputation.

Finally the Brigadier General removed his hand from his shoulder and turned to leave.

"One more thing," Brigadier General Kiehle said while turning to them again. "When is the first machine expected to be ready?"

"Less than a week," Mustang replied shortly.

"Splendid." That said, the Brigadier General and his unit marched out of the warehouse.

Alfons stood stiffly, looking after them before he abruptly turned to Mustang. "What did I just do?"

Mustang scowled, then a dry smile revealed on his lips. "Your suggestion was fair, Heiderich, I just don't want this project to fall into his hands."

Alfons frowned, not liking the sound of that. "What do you mean?"

"He is looking for an opportunity, but he will not have it," Mustang said in a low voice. "He cares only about gaining power. Great power." He gave Alfons a serious look. "I want you to be careful whenever he is around you, Heiderich. And tell Fullmetal to be watchful around him too."

Alfons nodded. "Yes, sir."

--

A soldier followed her to the right door, and Winry Rockbell found herself feeling slightly nervous. Edward had been by himself without Al for so long. Was he still the same?

"Here it is, Miss," the soldier said politely.

"Thank you."

The soldier left her, and she stood silently facing the door for some seconds before she knocked.

She heard some movement from behind the door. "Who is it?" a voice asked from the other side.

"Ed," Winry said silently. "It's..."

The door went up quickly, and there stood no other than Edward – offering her a slightly shy smile and a tentative look.

Winry recognized him immediately. He hadn't changed much. He was a little taller and his hair was longer, but his face looked soft of the sight of her. He stood balancing on his flesh leg, the artificial one was removed.

Winry dropped her bag and her suitcase, and before he could say anything, she locked her arms around his neck and dug her face into his shoulder. She hadn't hugged Edward since they were little kids. How strange was that?

Edward stiffened and unsteadily supported himself to a wall with his right hand as he almost lost his balance by the sudden action. He felt his face got warm of a blush.

"Edward," Winry whispered. "Welcome back."

He smiled softly and patted her back. "It's good to see you, Winry."

She released him quickly and turned for her suitcase. "Lay down now so I can get to work." She wasn't slow with picking up her things and marching inside the room. She scanned the dorm room. The place was a mess, but it didn't surprise her. Edward seemed to have been working with something like always. There were papers everywhere.

Edward closed the door behind them and jumped on one leg after her, looking questioningly at her. "Winry, I..."

Winry waved him off and opened her suitcase on an available spot on the floor. "You didn't think I would come empty-handed, did you?"

The blank metal shone brightly in the pale sunlight from the window, and Edward's golden eyes grew big. He looked at her again. "But I've grown a little from last time," he said dumbly.

Winry provided him with an open smile, picking up the new leg. "You should know better than underestimate me. Just lay down already."

Edward laid himself obediently down. He would never win an argument against her anyway. He felt slightly uncomfortable when stripping off his pants, and Winry studied his old port on his leg where the automail had used to connect.

"It looks okay," she commented. "It only needs some cleaning." She got up and went to the bathroom. She came back with a bowl with hot water and a cloth. Arranging everything by the bedside, she sat down again and started to work. "You can't tell me where you've been, right?" she said in a low voice.

Edward looked away from her, his gold eyes darkening. He remembered what the Colonel had said. No one else could know anything about the other world. Not even Winry. He hated keeping things from her. But it wasn't any point telling her the truth. The truth didn't matter. The truth had to be forgotten in order for them to live in this world.

"Was it some kind of mission for the military?" she asked.

"No."

"Then..." Winry stopped her hand, shaking lightly. "I don't understand why you didn't come back. We thought you had died... doing the transmutation that brought Al back. Why didn't you come home to see him? Or send a letter at least?"

Edward lowered his head, still looking away. "I wanted to. But I couldn't."

Winry nodded slowly. Then she forced a smile on her features, continuing her work. "What kind of limbs did you have up till now?" she asked, carefully cleaning the port and connection spots at his leg. "Something tells me you didn't have a proper automail mechanic at that place."

"You're right about that," Edward replied timidly. Winry brushed his metal port again with the warm, wet cloth. It didn't feel as bad as he had thought. "I was with my father for some time," he said cautiously. "He developed a simple kind of it, but I had to change them quite often because they easily got busted."

"Why am I not surprised?" Winry sighed.

"I'm not that careless," Edward opposed.

She smiled and shook her head, putting the cloth down. "Are you telling me you've stopped getting yourself into fights?"

Edward shrugged at this.

"Who owns the other bed by the way?" Winry asked, nodding towards the empty, but used, bed across the room.

"Alfons," Edward said.

Winry looked up at him, confused.

"Another Alfons," Edward added fast. "Alfons Heiderich."

"Who is that?"

"Just someone I met... He wanted to help me with a project."

"So he came back here with you?" Winry asked.

"Yeah," Edward said, beaming softly.

"I see," Winry said. She didn't need to hear all the details. Edward had always a good reason. If she didn't need to know, fine. She could find out things her own way. She picked up the automail leg. "What kind of project is it?" Making it ready for the connection of nerves, arranging it into the ports.

"It's to get Al back," Edward said. "Go."

Winry nodded, and pressed the limb into the ports. Edward flinched and his face scrunched up in pain.

She made no notice of it, knowing he was better off that way. Instead she picked up his new arm and climbed up in the bed beside him and ran the wet cloth at his forehead.

"Take off your shirt," she ordered softly.

Edward obliged obediently and wrung his shirt off. Winry stared in wonder at the leather straps which held his arm in place.

He released his straps and unattached his arm, tossing it out of the way. "Winry..." he said silently, as she started examining his shoulder.

"Yes?"

"Al lost his memories, right?"

She stopped. "Yes..."

"I see."

"How did you know?"

"It doesn't matter. What matter is, I know it's an organization called Thule Society that has abducted him."

"You mean... the terrorist group?"

"Yes."

"Why would they take him?" she asked, feeling a terrible lump growing in her chest.

"I don't know," Edward admitted. "But I think alchemy is involved. I've met them before. They made me do alchemy for them. Maybe that's why they took Al... To use him in their terror acts."

Winry felt scared and confused. But she didn't ask more of it. "Al was..." she started silently while cleaning Edward's ports about his shoulder. She had almost forgotten that she had a job to do. "Ever since he returned, he was determined to find you and get you back." She picked up the arm and made it ready to be connected.

Edward gave her a nod, and she connected the arm to the body, making him grit his teeth and press his back against the wall.

Tears were welling up in her eyes, even if she didn't want them to. "Before he disappeared we had a small argument. I didn't like that he had become a state alchemist. He didn't even tell me that he was going to do it. He got angry at me... and then he left for Lior. I think it was kind of an after-shock of losing Izumi as well. She treated him like a son."

"Wait a sec..." Edward interrupted. "Sensei is..."

Winry nodded. "She passed away three weeks ago."

Edward lowered his head. "I see."

"Al said I didn't care about you..." Winry whispered. "I've never seen him like that before. I tried to contact him after he left, but he never called back. And then... I got a message from the military that he was missing." She paused for some seconds, simply working with the ports of the automail arm and Edward remained silent, listening to her uneven breaths.

"Now I regret everything I've told him the past two years," she said. "I've always said that we could only hope you would get back, but that he had to prepare living without you forever. But..." Tears started flowing down her cheeks at this. "But that didn't mean that I didn't care about you anymore!"

Edward looked at her for a long time without saying a word. Watched her crying. He didn't like it, but he didn't feel like trying to make her stop either. Often people would feel better after crying.

"It's okay that you said that. Al didn't mean it," Edward said in the end. "It was the right thing for you to say." He offered her shoulder a gentle squeeze. "For a long time, I thought I'd never be able to come back. But suddenly I got the chance, so I took it."

She dried her cheeks, smiling a weak smile. "Stupid... Rest for a while. It's normal to have fevers when your limbs—"

"No," Edward cut her off suddenly. He inhaled deep for a couple of times before he stood up from the bed. Testing his leg, moving and twisting his new arm in front of him.

Winry remained seated, watching him. She smiled gently. "See? I knew how much you would grow."

Edward looked at her. "Thank you, Winry. Now I can finally get to work." He got dressed quickly, pulling in some new fresh clothes he had bought the day before with Alfons. Then he swiftly gathered some sketches and all the notes floating around into a pile.

"What are you working on?" Winry asked brightly.

Edward rose, deciding that he at least could tell her that. He felt like he owed her. "We're building a flying machine. But don't tell anyone else about it."

Winry's eyes grew wide as a pair of china. "Flying..."

Edward turned to the door. "You don't have to worry anymore, Winry," he said resolutely. "I promise you, I will get Al back. No matter what. Just wait for us."

"I'll wait," Winry whispered. "Like always."

--

"Separate the materials for the machine and the fuel," Alfons called out.

The trucks loaded with materials stood lined up outside the warehouse. They had arrived some minutes earlier.

"Where do you want the fuel-stuff?" Havoc asked.

Alfons gave it some thought for some seconds. "I don't know. Just far away from everything else. Maybe I should use one of the other warehouses."

Mustang stepped up to them. "What's the problem?"

Alfons turned to him. "I need a separate place to develop the fuels. It could be dangerous for everyone to breathe in the scents of all the different chemicals at all time."

"I see," Mustang replied. "We'll move it to the warehouse number 3 next to us."

Alfons nodded and climbed up in the truck after Havoc.

"Hell, what is all this stuff?" Havoc asked, making some effort of moving a single barrel marked NaCl.

"That's salt," Alfons said.

"What do you need salt for?"

"The chemical reaction between salt and alcohol makes the fuel more efficient," Alfons explained, patting another barrel marked OH.

"You're going to mix alcohol in it too?" Havoc asked in horror.

"Of course."

"What a waste..." Havoc groaned, hoisting the barrel of salt down from the truck.

Colonel Roy Mustang organized the lifting of the incredible amounts of metal plates into the first warehouse.

"Make room for a circle in the middle," he called out, as Breda and Falman moved the first heavy amount into the working area with a smaller truck.

"I see we're finally getting started over here," a new voice commented, and Mustang turned. He smirked at the shorter blond alchemist, standing with the young, pretty girl.

"Fullmetal," he greeted. "Are you ready to work or are you intending to keep slacking off all day?"

Edward grimaced at him and nonchalantly held up a sketch.

Mustang stepped up to him with a polite nod at the girl, and looked interestedly at the sketch. Edward handed it to him. "I've been planning how it will look like and developed a manual of the right order of the transmutations."

The drawing of the machine looked really remarkable. It would be fit for two people, had four set of wings – two underneath each other connected above the body – and a large propeller at the front. The tail was long and supported by a smaller wheel underneath, as well as the plane's body had a larger pair of wheels arranged below. The span of the flying machine would be predictably around 45 feet, and 30 feet in length.

Mustang stared amazed from the sketch and back at Edward, and failed to hide his pride of this young man. "Good job, Fullmetal," he said, even if the words were toning down how brilliant it really was. But it was no need to tell Edward that. Edward couldn't care less if it was brilliant or not. He had already turned away, gazing at the trucks with metal plates. "Who exactly are going to fly it when we're done?" he asked.

That was one of the few things Mustang really hadn't thought very much about yet, which he should have. He cleared his throat, hiding the fact. "Lessons must be given to those who volunteer. I will be one of them," he added resolutely.

Edward turned back and gazed at him. "I guess I'll be your teacher then." He grinned. "As long as you're a fast learner, Colonel. I'm not intending to waste any time giving lessons."

"We'll see," Mustang said muttering. Arrogant kid...

Edward looked around again. "Where is Alfons?"

"He's moving the materials for the fuel to another warehouse," Mustang replied.

Edward nodded. "Yeah, that's a good idea." He started walking, giving a sign to Winry to follow him. "I'll go find him."

Roy nodded and watched after him, something stirring inside his heart.

--

"Alfons, this is Winry," Edward introduced. "Winry, Alfons Heiderich."

Alfons gently offered Winry his hand with a bright smile. "Hi."

She looked stunned at him before she realized she was just staring. "I'm sorry," she said fast. "You—"

Alfons realized he suddenly had a big problem and glanced tentatively at Edward, silently asking him to save him. He knew he couldn't actually tell Winry that he was from another world, and neither could he stick to his military-story. After all, she of all people would know if he played with Edward in Rizembool when they were kids... So how could he explain who he was?

Winry looked from him and back at Edward. "How can he... look so much like Al?"

Edward laughed. "Uhm, well, funny coincidence, don't you think?"

A coincidence? Alfons thought dryly. Couldn't he come up with something better than that?

"I'm confused..." Winry replied slowly. "I just didn't expect—" She shook her head to find back to her politeness, offering her hand back. "I'm sorry... Alfons... I'm Winry."

Alfons shook her hand, still somewhat hesitant. This didn't go as well as he had hoped. Of course people would start wondering when they saw him.

"So how did you two meet?" Winry's question cut him off from his thoughts.

"At University," Edward said. "I haven't just been slacking off, Winry," he added with a small smile and turned to Alfons before she could ask further questions. "Shall we begin?"

Alfons nodded, noting that Winry still looked slightly peculiarly at him. "Whenever you're ready," he replied fast. Even if he freaked her out, he was glad that Edward had contacted this girl. She was his childhood friend, after all. And he had gotten the better metal limbs back as well.

Maybe after some time she would get used to how he looked like.

They moved to the first warehouse, finding the first supply of all the metal materials and everything else they would need to start building the plane already brought inside.

Edward clapped and touched the ground in the middle of the room. A bright, blue light sparkled around him as a huge circle appeared on the ground.

Alfons watched in pure admiration. The circle was different from the one he remembered from Thule Society and Edward's spare time drawings, but he could still recognize it as an alchemy circle.

"I don't necessarily need a circle," Edward said. "But it will be easier to perform more complicated transmutations with a circle."

"We need a name for our project," Alfons said. "The secret code."

"He's right," Mustang said, stepping towards them with Edward's sketch.

Edward took his sketch back and looked at it. "We'll name it Azure."

"Azure?" Alfons repeated questionably.

Edward nodded and smiled at him. "As the sky."

"Sounds quite dull to be you, Fullmetal," Mustang mocked.

Havoc tagged along behind him together with Hawkeye, overhearing the conversation. "Sounds like a girl I would've wanted to date," he commented cheerfully.

Edward offered them a warning glare before he just ignored them and handed the sketch to Alfons. "We'll go in this order. First we'll create Azure's engine and connect it to a cockpit, and then we'll make her shell, feet, front, tail and wings."

Alfons nodded amazed. The sketches showed almost everything that was needed to know about the design of the airplane and the order of transmutations. Edward had really created a manual like this in such a short period of time? No matter how brilliant Edward was, he could never help being utterly amazed by his incredible abilities.

And when they first got everything started, it felt like they did a huge progress on Azure just after the first day. Alfons felt very excited. The first airplane was expected done by five days. They might not even have to use that much time, just building one.

Edward preformed transmutation after transmutation. Forming parts for the piston engine, and Alfons put them in place, connecting cables and telling Edward if he needed a part changed to fit the rest, or Edward to transmute parts together. Edward was good with visualizing and calculating things, but Alfons was happy to know that he actually was better with the practical electronics. He made sure the cylinders fitted the rest and connected properly. Still alchemy never stopped amusing him. It was an incredible skill, and very useful.

While this was going on, Mustang's unit brought them the necessary materials they needed into the circle.

After a couple of hours, Alfons excused himself to get some air. Even if Edward refused to take a break once in a while, he at least would.

Outside he leant his back against the wall, sighing deep. The sun was already starting to set. He smiled, thinking of Edward's alchemy and how brilliant it was. He had still a little difficultly of accepting it as science though. It still seemed to be mere magic to him. But he wouldn't tell Edward that. He didn't have a death wish. He chuckled to himself of the thought of Edward's offended grimace if he had heard his thoughts. Alchemy was a part of his life after all. Edward would hear nothing of alchemy as comparable to sheer fictional trends of people's imagination.

"Alfons?" a hesitant voice said.

He turned, seeing the slender blond girl that was Edward's childhood friend. Winry. She was a beautiful girl, he thought. He silently wished he could have given her a better first-impression. Hoping he wouldn't waste away his second shot, he gave her a welcoming smile, despite that he was feeling a little nervous. He hadn't expected her to approach him when he was alone. But he definitely wouldn't be impolite and run away either.

"Hi," he said.

She smiled back at him, knitting her fingers behind her back. "I just wanted to... get to know you a little better, since you're a friend of Edward's, I mean."

"We've known each other for a while," Alfons presented kindly.

Winry beamed shyly. "I just noticed something earlier. The way he smiles. You two seem to... be quite close."

Alfons shrugged half-heartedly, unsure what she really meant by that. Did she suspect something? That couldn't be. They weren't possibly that transparent. "I guess," he simply said. Since Edward hadn't told her about their relationship, he probably didn't want her to know yet. It was Edward's job to tell her after all, not his.

"He told me about Thule Society," Winry suddenly said. "He's been involved with them, hasn't he?"

Alfons scowled, feeling uncomfortable. Was she questioning him because Edward didn't give her the details, or was he just being paranoid again?

"He unwillingly was," he said carefully.

She nodded. "I see... And now Al is..."

"Don't worry," Alfons said. "Edward never lets down a promise."

"He has always been a stubborn guy," Winry said, laughing quietly and shaking off her uncomfortable feelings around Alfons. Despite of his looks, she decided there was nothing suspicious about him. He seemed rather cute, she thought. "I don't know if he's ever told you about when he decided to get his automail," she continued, smiling. "In a way I was so proud of making it for him, that I sometimes forgot that he'd never be satisfied before he got his real limbs back... I only told myself, that I would study harder and get stronger, to make him the best automail in the world." She shook her head, smiling weakly.

Alfons gave her an uplifting smile. "You're an important friend to him," he said.

Winry beamed at him again. "So are you. Thank you for... taking care of him all this time. That he wasn't alone."

Alfons chuckled softly. He took care of me too.

"But..." Winry continued. "You should know one thing. The automail is his biggest weakness. Connecting it to the body hurts, and wearing it in cold climate could ruin it."

Alfons nodded, understanding. "I see... Edward hasn't felt too good lately. He often has fevers and nightmares."

"It could be the automail as well," Winry said. "But it should be better now that he has gotten the new one."

Alfons was happy hear that. "That's a relief. You've done a great job."

She beamed. "Well, it is my job."

"Where are you staying over the night?" Alfons asked conversationally.

"At Schieska's," Winry said. "Why don't you bring Edward out tomorrow and have lunch with us?" she suggested. "He should really take a break once in a while."

Alfons nodded, happy with the idea. He wanted to know Edward's friends better as well. "I will do that," he agreed. "See you then."

She smiled and waved at him as she left and he headed back to his work together with Edward, his heart feeling much lighter.

--

When the day had turned dark they had nearly finished the engine already. Edward stood up, drying some sweat from his forehead. "We'll soon be able to test it. As soon as we have fuel and connect it to power."

"We could use a car," Alfons said. "But I need some more time with the fuel."

"Yeah," Edward agreed.

Mustang nodded at this. He was about to call it a day when he suddenly got interrupted.

"I see you're doing progress already," a familiar voice said.

Edward turned towards the voice, frowning. Alfons looked from Edward to the new arrival. The Brigadier General was back.

Carl R. Kiehle observed the piston engine with grown interest. "It'll be exciting to see how this piece of metal will look like as a flying machine."

For a moment, Alfons thought he sounded like he didn't believe for a second that this thing would fly up in the sky in just a couple of days.

"Can I help you, sir?" Mustang offered unwillingly.

"I came to inform you, Colonel, that the soldiers are placed on their spot and a realising system has been regimented."

"I see," Mustang replied. "If that was all, then—"

"And of course," the Brigadier General continued nonchalantly. "I will be here every day to see how things are going."

Edward crossed his arms. "As long as he's not in the way," he muttered. Alfons went pale as the Brigadier General turned towards them.

"What was that, Elric?" he asked. He sent a look like an arrow towards Edward, and something told Alfons that this man didn't like Edward much.

Edward watched him stiffly. "Nothing."

"Good. I'll see you tomorrow morning then," Kiehle finalised before he marched out of the warehouse.

It was silent among the group for some seconds, before Mustang took the word. "Let's call it a day." He addressed Edward. "You shouldn't be doing multiple transmutations for hours like that without resting."

Edward grimaced. "I'm fine, Mustang. You can go if you want, but I'll stay here and—"

"No," Mustang said firmly.

Edward stopped and just glared rigorously at him with bright and narrowing gold eyes.

"I won't let you worn yourself out before it has even gone a day, Fullmetal," Mustang said strictly. "Go back with Alfons to the dorms. We'll start again here at 7 am in the morning. That's an order."

Edward had unwillingly no choice than to oblige.

On their way back, Alfons gave Edward a half-hearted glance as they walked beside each other. "I think the Colonel is right, you know," he said carefully. "Winry asked us to eat lunch with her and Scheiska tomorrow. I think it is a good—"

"I can't," Edward said.

Alfons stopped, scowling. "Yes, you can."

Edward gnarled. "Are we supposed to go out and hang when Al is missing?"

"Even if he is missing," Alfons countered very carefully, "we can't stop living. He wouldn't want you to stop eating and exhaust yourself either."

Surprisingly Edward didn't start yelling at him. He simply looked away and seemed troubled.

They reached their dorm room and Alfons unlocked the door. Edward followed him inside, kicking off his shoes in the hall and rested his back tiredly against the wall. "I feel like I'm already closer in getting him back," he said slowly. "That's why... I can't stop now."

"We're not stopping until we've retrieved him," Alfons assured softly. "But like I said. That doesn't mean that we can't eat lunch."

Edward sighed. "Alright."

Alfons smirked pleased with himself, and let his hand caress gently down Edward's left arm. "Finally you agree with me on something," he muttered dryly.

Edward snorted and turned towards the bed, but froze as he felt Alfons' warm breath against his neck, and Alfons let his lips brush lightly across his skin, making him shiver.

"You're always being such a stubborn moron," Alfons murmured.

Edward's eyes flared, and then Alfons abruptly found himself being pressed against the wall by one flesh and one metal hand. While the hands exploring over his body, Edward's lips was all over his throat and neck.

With an excited twist in his stomach, Alfons wondered surprised how offending Edward could make him do something like this in return. He arched his head backwards, giving him better access while his mind was going blank. He felt strongly the thrilling sensations that sent sparkles around his body which headed straight for his groin, and his hands were digging into Edward's hair, messing up his ponytail.

Then he was suddenly kissing Edward's mouth while he felt a fumbling hand searching for his light skin. Everything happened so fast that any of them didn't even think of moving to the bed.

Edward's flesh hand had found its way underneath his shirt, feeling warm against his skin, moving over his stomach and up his chest, lingering by his nipple and Alfons moaned right into the kiss. Edward's mouth moved to kiss his cheek, down his nape, sucking on his earlobe, dragging all kinds of humming and gasping sounds out of the taller blond, and then Edward grinded against him. A wave of pleasure flashed around his growing erection, making him suppress a whimper from the back of his throat.

The friction felt marvellous and Edward didn't stop. Not until Alfons moved his hands down and quickly opened Edward's fly, slipping his hand inside his shorts, enveloping his hardness and fondled him before stroking firmly.

Edward exhaled heavily though his nose, pushing up Alfons' shirt and fumbled with his fly as well while sucking eagerly at the curve of his neck.

Alfons moaned when a flesh hand found him and fondled, stroked, pumped. He was already close. Edward's mouth found his again and they kissed ferociously, not holding anything back.

Alfons had forgotten all about liking it better slow and passionate. Edward, the impatient (little) being he was, liked things to go around fast and that felt good too, so Alfons didn't complain. It felt really good to just let go...

To just stop thinking. Work on adrenalin.

He was buckling his hips into Edward's hand, arching his head up against the wall and let out an unsuppressed moan.

"Don't stop," Edward breathed into the slick skin, obviously pleased with his vocal reactions. "Don't stop." He found Alfons' mouth again, kissing his lips, which was answered hungrily by the German.

Kissing Edward, feeling him, smelling his scent. Everything was like it should be.

Then the delightful pressure went over the edge, making Alfons part abruptly from the kiss to breathe in hard as he came, white dots sparkling in front of his eyes. His hand still worked, making Edward follow some seconds later and he felt the sticky substance against his fingers.

Breathing hard he closed his eyes to calm down his racing heart, grateful that the wall was there to support his back. Edward's head rested heavily on his shoulder, barely holding himself up standing.

Then it was over. Their life and task was immediately flushing back into his mind like a tide wave. But he treasured that short time it had lasted. The short time he had been able to let go. To close his mind off the things at hand.

"Good we bought some new clothes," Alfons murmured.

Edward mumbled something incoherent as a reply into the curve of his neck.

They cuddled together on Edward's bed, facing each other and Edward rested on top of Alfons' chest. He was already half asleep.

"By the way, naming the project Azure didn't have anything to do with the sky, did it?" Alfons surmised.

Edward opened his eyes, feeling his cheeks getting warm. "Nah, not only that," he said.

Was Edward blushing? "Then what?" Alfons asked, smirking curiously.

"I don't want to tell you," Edward said.

Alfons put up his most disappointed face. "Why not?"

"Because it's lame, really. Just go to sleep already." Edward snorted and moved off of him, turning to face the wall to avoid looking at him, but Alfons wrestled him onto his back.

"Only if you tell me," he countered, grinning.

Edward sighed, giving up. "Okay, if you leave me alone afterwards."

"Maybe," Alfons said.

"I named it after your blue eyes." Edward looked away, fighting his embarrassment but continuing silently. "I've realized, looking into them is what helps me keep going. But it's not because they remind me of him or anything. It is simply because it's... you." He gazed still self-consciously up at the German again. "See? It's lame. Good night."

Alfons released him slowly as Edward hurriedly turned away from him again and shut his eyes. He smiled. That was probably the most romantic thing Edward had ever said to him. He had no idea that Edward was capable of even thinking of something like that. Edward wasn't really the romantic type of person. He probably didn't think of it as romantic anyway. Still he never stopped surprising Alfons. Edward had even added that it wasn't because he reminded him of his brother. That meant a lot to Alfons, more than he had really imagined. He had thought that he had gotten passed all that, thinking Edward was with him because of Al, even if he knew that wasn't the reason. But it was good to have it confirmed once in a while anyway.

"It isn't lame," Alfons said softly, feeling very flattered but couldn't help keep grinning still. "I think it's sort of cute."

"Fuck off, Alfons," Edward growled, but when Alfons reached and kissed him good night, he kissed back.